Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘Phaldesal’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALDESAL’, particularly characterized by having white flecked flowers, 2 to 5 peduncles, a peduncle that is long and moderate, leaves that are narrow oblong and moderately elongated, and is propagated by tissue culture is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALDESAL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceaefamily, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘PHALDESAL’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 60 species of herbaceousperennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable forcultivar in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantlyepiphytic or rock dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the MalayArchipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy,oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodialgrowth), which vary in size from 12 to 20 cm to over 60 cm. The leavesmay be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in thehorticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for theflorist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home orinteriorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes or panicles,often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning withthe lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; thelateral ones being alike. The lowermost petals, called the labellum, arethree-lobed and are often more brightly-colored than the other flowersegments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow,and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexualpropagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which arisefrom the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants aredetached from the mother plants and may be planted in a suitablesubstrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALDESAL’ is particularly characterized by itsattractive and unique white flecked flowers, economical propagation bytissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable forpackaging and shipping to the market.

‘PHALDESAL’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by theinventor in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALDESAL’ originated from a cross made in August2005 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The female parent is a white fleckedPhalaenopsis pot plant named ‘01-1758’ (unpatented), while the maleparent is a white Phalaenopsis pot plant named ‘06285-0001’(unpatented). A single plant was selected in August 2008 and has beenasexually reproduced repeatedly by meristem tissue culture in Bleiswijk,The Netherlands over a 3-year period. The new variety has been found toretain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexualpropagations.

Asexual reproduction of ‘PHALDESAL’ by tissue culture was firstperformed in December 2011 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar is firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have not been applied for.‘PHALDESAL’ has not been made publicly available or sold anywhere in theworld more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

-   -   1) White flecked flowers, the intensity of the flecks depends on        the temperature during opening of the flower buds;    -   2) 2 to 5 peduncles;    -   3) Peduncle is long and moderate;    -   4) The shape of the leaf is narrow oblong and moderately        elongated; and    -   5) Plants are propagated by meristem tissue culture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms andfoliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonablyobtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are ofa 50-week old plant grown in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlandsin March 2015.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms and foliage of‘PHALDESAL’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALDESAL’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘PHALDESAL’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘PHALDESAL’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inBleiswijk, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 50-week oldplants which were planted from a nursery tray in 12 centimeter pots andgrown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 30 weeks, continuedby a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks ina greenhouse of 21° C. Observations were made in March 2015. Colorreadings were taken under 4-6000 lux natural light in the greenhouse.Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.        -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis Hybrid.        -   Common name.—Moth Orchid.        -   Variety name.—‘PHALDESAL’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘01-1758’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘06285-0001’            (unpatented).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Tissue culture.-   Plant:    -   -   Crop time (time to produce a finished flowering plant).—48            to 50 weeks for a 12 cm pot.        -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Standard, green leaves, panicle.        -   Height (including pot, including inflorescence).—55.0 cm to            65.0 cm.        -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—25.0 cm to 30.0 cm.        -   Vigor.—Moderate.-   Roots:    -   -   Root description.—Greyed-green-colored roots (RHS 190B/C)            with lightly branching lateral roots having green colored            root tips (RHS 144A).-   Leaves:    -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 6 to 8 leaves are            produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 15.0 cm            to 19.0 cm. Width: 6.0 cm to 7.0 cm. Position of broadest            part of leaf: At the middle. Shape: Narrow oblong. Base            shape: Moderately elongated. Apex: Unequal acute. Leaf blade            angle with the petiole: Between 0 degrees and 30 degrees            (measured from the horizontal position). Leaf margin:            Entire. Color: Upper surface: RHS 146A. Lower surface: RHS            146B. Variegation: Absent. Texture: Upper surface: A little            bit rough. Lower surface: Smooth. Thickness: 2.6 mm to            2.9 mm. Venation: Pattern: Parallel. Color of the midvein:            Upper surface: RHS 146A. Lower surface: RHS 146B.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—2 to 5.        -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—6 to 10.        -   Length.—45.0 cm to 55.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—5.4 mm to 5.8 mm.        -   Strength.—Moderate.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Brown-green (RHS 200A, 201A and 191A).        -   Internode length.—45.0 mm to 55.0 mm.        -   Callosities.—None.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, panicle            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 170.0 mm to            220.0 mm. Diameter: 4.2 mm to 4.4 mm.        -   Number of inflorescences on plant.—2 to 5.        -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11            months after planting in a 12 cm pot.        -   Flower.—Height: 78.0 mm to 83.0 mm. Diameter: 78.0 mm to            83.0 mm. Depth of lip: 19.0 mm to 21.0 mm.        -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 11 to 13 weeks.        -   Flower shape.—Flat.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:            Mucronate and symmetric. Margin: Entire. Length (from base            to tip): 35.0 mm to 38.0 mm. Width: 45.0 mm to 47.0 mm.            Position of broadest part of petal: At the middle. Color            (when fully opened): Main color: White (RHS 155C) flecked            (RHS 71A, 78A). At the base: White (RHS 155C). Netting of            the petals: None.        -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Entire. Length (from            base to tip): 39.0 mm to 41.0 mm. Width: 29.0 mm to 31.0 mm.            Position of broadest part of dorsal sepal: At the middle.            Color (when fully opened): Dorsal sepal is more flecked than            the petals. Main color: White (RHS 155C) flecked (RHS 71A,            78A). At the base: White (RHS 155C). Netting of the dorsal            sepal: None.        -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Margin: Entire. Length (from            base to tip): 43.0 mm to 45.0 mm. Width: 24.0 mm to 26.0 mm.            Position of broadest part of lateral sepal: At the middle.            Color (when fully opened): Lateral sepals are more flecked            than the petals. Main color: White (RHS 155C) flecked (RHS            71A, 78A). At the base: White (RHS 155C). Netting of the            lateral sepal: None.        -   Labellum (lip).—Margin: Entire. Shape: Triangular. Length:            20.0 mm to 22.0 mm. Width: 23.0 mm to 25.0 mm. Whiskers:            Present. Length of whiskers: Very long.        -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Type V (as described in the            International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of            Plants (UPOV) Test Guidelines for Phalaenopsis). Color:            White (RHS 155C) and yellow (RHS 7A, 1A) with dark purple            stripe towards the callus (RHS 59A). Netting of the lateral            lobe: None.        -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Triangular-trullate. Length: 21.0 mm to            23.0 mm. Width: 22.0 mm to 24.0 mm. Netting of the apical            lobe: None. Color: White (RHS 155C) and yellow-green towards            the callus (RHS 1A, 3A).        -   Callus.—Color: Dark brown (RHS 200B).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a            single, short structure called the column, possessing one            terminal anther with pollen grains united into pollinia,            which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located            under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior            with three carpels present.        -   Column.—Length: 9.0 mm to 10.0 mm. Diameter: 4.5 mm to            5.5 mm. Color: White (RHS 155C) and purple towards the            bottom (RHS 71A, 78A).        -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2. Size: 9.0 mm to 10.0 mm. Color:            Yellow-orange (RHS 23A).        -   Ovary.—Length: Not visible. Diameter: 2.4 mm to 2.6 mm.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 28.0 mm to 31.0 mm. Diameter: 3.2 mm to            3.4 mm. Texture: Smooth. Color: Green (RHS 146C) at the base            and light green (RHS 145D) towards the flower.-   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of 15° C. and a    high temperature about 30° C.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

The female parent of ‘PHALDESAL’, cultivar ‘01-1758’ (unpatented), is nolonger in existence, so a meaningful comparison cannot be made.

‘PHALDESAL’ differs from male parent ‘06285-0001’ (unpatented) in that‘PHALDESAL’ has white flecked flowers and a dark brown callus, whereas‘06285-0001’ has white flowers and a yellow dotted callus. Additionally,‘PHALDESAL’ has a smaller flower diameter than ‘06285-0001’.

‘PHALDESAL’ differs from commercial variety ‘PHALCASWOJ’ (unpatented) inthat ‘PHALDESAL’ has long whiskers and an apical lobe of the lip that iswhite with yellow-green towards the callus, whereas ‘PHALCASWOJ’ hasshort whiskers and an apical lobe of the lip that is greyed-orange andgreyed-purple with white towards the whiskers. Additionally, ‘PHALDESAL’has flowers with lighter flecks than ‘PHALCASWOJ’.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named‘PHALDESAL’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.